Howrah bridge, Kolkata

Josh Hamilton

Kolkata is an organised chaos; a beautiful mess; an unreal sight. Today the Jungle Crows helped us move through the chaotic streets to see many of the monuments in Kolkata.

The Howrah Bridge was a highlight for me. Walking over the bridge you could feel a strong shaking sensation moving you from side to side, caused by the cars that zoomed past and the people on bikes with carriages that came hurrying past on the footpath. There was also a bouncing feel in the frames of the bridge as the waves of traffic flew by and from the buses that slowly trudged down the road. But what amazed me about the Howrah Bridge was the multiple functions it served. It did not just serve as a road for transport but it also was used for shops and stalls where all sorts of foods and homemade clothing items were sold – it was a vital lifeline to local residents and homeless people that live nearby. These functions elaborated India's strong link with diversity by giving all the different parts of the city different uses and opportunities to create a source of income.

The Bridge also provides shelter for families in the underpass.  Under the bridge, and to the side of it, was the first set of slums we have seen. It was not particularly nice to see. Families were swimming in the Howrah river as if it would be their last feel of water they would ever have; they were also rinsing and cleaning their clothes in the river, which could quite possibly be one of the few sets of clothes they have and then redressing in those same clothes. For me, it was tough to see multiple families so satisfied with the cleanness of the opaque river, however, it is always pleasing to see their smiles which softens the pain from the sight of any poverty.

I caught a glimpse of a mother throwing all of their families rubbish out the window directly onto the surface of the river. This showed part of the unpleasant truth that is causing India's high levels of pollution. It seems to be a regular 'mistake' for people to drop rubbish on the streets or in the river. However, it does not help when there are little to no rubbish bins around the city.

The Howrah Bridge has been a low point for me on this trip, however, this poverty and pollution is not just around the bridge, it is quite simply everywhere.